Residents Forced to Risk Lives at Fatima Nagar Chowk as Pedestrian Subway Remains Closed
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, June 13, 2026: The closure of the pedestrian subway at Fatima Nagar Chowk has triggered serious safety concerns among local residents, who claim they are being forced to risk their lives while crossing the busy Solapur Road after the junction was made signal-free.
Following repeated complaints from residents regarding pedestrian safety, Pune Panther Organisation Founder-President Sachin Bhosale visited the site and inspected the situation. During his visit, he observed pedestrians, including students, women, and senior citizens, struggling to cross the road amid heavy and fast-moving traffic.
The Pune Traffic Police recently converted Fatima Nagar Chowk into a signal-free junction to improve vehicular movement on Solapur Road. However, residents allege that adequate arrangements for pedestrian safety were not made before implementing the traffic changes.
Although a pedestrian subway already exists at the junction, it remains closed, with shutters down on both sides. According to residents, the subway is filled with garbage, plastic waste, liquor bottles, discarded clothes, sacks, and other debris, rendering it unusable for the public.
“We have to wait for several minutes before attempting to cross the road, and even then it feels like risking our lives. Senior citizens and schoolchildren face the greatest difficulty. The subway was built for public convenience, but its closure has left us with no safe alternative,” said a local resident, urging authorities to take immediate action.
During the inspection, Bhosale personally attempted to cross the road and witnessed the challenges faced by pedestrians.
“Making the junction signal-free solely to ease vehicular movement cannot come at the cost of public safety. The administration must immediately clean, repair, and reopen the subway for public use. Proper lighting, CCTV surveillance, and security arrangements should also be provided. If the authorities fail to act promptly, Pune Panther Organisation will launch a strong public agitation,” Bhosale said.
Residents have also questioned who would be held accountable if a serious accident occurs due to the absence of safe pedestrian facilities at the busy intersection.
The residents, along with Pune Panther Organisation, have urged the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pune Traffic Police to prioritise pedestrian safety and reopen the Fatima Nagar subway without further delay.
